Container and handle arrangement

ABSTRACT

A container set formed from a thermoplastic material including at least two containers which are joined together by an integral flexible strip or web. The containers have side walls which diverge in a direction toward the upper open end of the container. A handle extends upwardly from a location between the containers to facilitate lifting the container set. A wedge adjacent the lower end of the handle engages the facing side walls of opposed containers to prevent the containers from tipping toward each other when the container set is lifted by the handle. Several of the disclosed handles can be connected to the container by a stab-in movement from above the container without lifting or otherwise disturbing the container.

United States Patent [1 1 Toews et al.

[54] CONTAINER AND HANDLE ARRANGEMENT [75] Inventors: Vern J. Toews,Ruthven, Ontario;

. Harold E. Wigle, Leamington, On-

tario, both of Canada [73] Assignees: William P. Bryan, Jr., Tifton,0a.;

Vern J. Toews, Ruthven, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: Jan. 9, 1970 [2|]Appl. No: 1,806

[52] US. Cl. ..47/34.l3, 220/94 B, 220/104,

Vaughn ..229/52 [451 Jan. 2, 1973 2,688,43l 9/1954 Loeb et al ..47/34.llX 2,708,063 5/l955 Yale 3,078,020 2/l963 Boonstra 3,353,729 11/1967 Hull..224/45 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Bagwill -Attamey-Markva, Smith &Kruger [5 7] ABSTRACT A container set formed from a thermoplasticmaterial including at least two containers which are joined together byan integral flexible strip or web. The con tainers have side walls whichdiverge in a direction toward the upper open end of the container. Ahandle extends upwardly from a location between the containers tofacilitate lifting the container set. A wedge adjacent the lower end ofthe handle engages the facing side walls of opposed containers toprevent the containers from tipping toward each other when the containerset is lifted by the handle. Several of the disclosed handles can beconnected to the container by a stab-in movement from above thecontainer without lifting or otherwise disturbing the container.

11 Claims, 27 Drawing Figures nave/enema i PATENTEDJANZ am saw 5 or 6 5s Ll m, A N k k A TTORXE 3S CONTAINER AND HANDLE ARRANGEMENT Thisinvention relates generally to a multiple compartment container having acarrying handle, and particularly to a container set including multiplecontainers for handling and marketing nursery plants.

,Multiple compartment nursery plant containers are well known. Suchprior known containers include a multiplicity of integrally joinedcontainers formed from a thin sheet of plastic material, such aspolystyrene.

Among the difficulties encountered with the prior art market packs, asthey are commonly termed, is that they are frequently difficult for thepurchaser to carry. In addition, the containers are frequently spatteredwith earth or mud as a result of watering and sprinkling, and thecustomers bands or clothes become soiled unless the retailer provides aspecial wrap or package. Since most plant marketing operations are nowconducted on a serve-yourself basis, the problem of soiled bands andclothes would not be eliminated even if the retailer could individuallypackage each market pack or container, because the packaging could notbe accomplished until after the customer had made his selections. In anyevent, because of the economics of nursery or other plant saleoperations, it is virtually impossible for the retailer to individuallypackage each market yack or container. As a result, impulse oronthe-spot purchases are not made by the customer because he is notdressed to handle the plants and does not with to soil has bands.

In addition, prior known plant containers are so constructed that thereis no place for the conspicuous display of advertising to indicate tothe purchaser that the plants are produced by a reputable grower.Therefore, the discriminating customer finds it necessary to inquireabout where and by whom the plants are grown. Hence, the retailer mustanswer numerous questions about the plants, much time is lost, andunless sufficient help is available to assist all the customers, salesare lost because the retailer is too busy to serve the customers.

Among the desirable features of a plant container are the following:

i. The container must be formed from a lightweight material with anattractive appearance.

2. Container sets must include containers with tapered side walls so thecontainer sets are nestable for shipping.

3. Where the container is to be provided with a handle, the handle mustbe connectable to the container after the plants are placed in thecontainer.

4. The handle must be so constructed that it can be shipped in acollapsed or flattened condition with the containers.

5. Both the container and the handle must be sufficiently stronganddurable that plants and moist earth in the containers can be liftedwithout failure of either the container or the handle.

6. The containers must be so constructed that they do not tip whenlifted by the handle.

7. The handle and container must be very inexpensive to compete withsimilar containers, must be adapted for use with existing nurseryequipment, and must require a minimum of manual manipulation to connectthe handle to the container.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a multiplecompartment plant container with a unique carrying handle whichovercomes and alleviates the problems of prior art plant containers andsatisfies the criteria listed above. The carrying handle is connected tothe compartmented container and extends upwardly therefrom to be readilygrasped to lift and carry the plant container. In one embodiment of thecontainer set of this invention, the carrying handle is connected to theplant container at a location between two horizontally aligned andinterconnected containers for the plants.

The container set of this invention is advantageously thermally formedfrom a relatively thin sheet of thermo formable plastic material. In thepreferred embodiment the container set includes atleast two uprightcontainers with tapered side walls, the containers being horizontallyconnected to each other by a thin and somewhat flexible integral web orflange. This web is not sufficiently rigid to prevent the containersfrom tipping toward each other when the container set is lifted from alocation along the web. If the containers tip, when lifted, tall plantsin the containers may become unbalanced and fall out, or alternativelythe root structure of the plants may shift with corresponding damage tothe plants.

In accordance with this invention, the problem of tipping of theflexible wall containers of a set toward each other is completelyeliminated. In this container arrangement the handle extends between thefacing side walls of adjacent containers of the set and prevents thecontainers from tipping toward each other so they occupy essentially thesame upright position when the containers are lifted via the handle, aswhen the containers rest on a flat surface.

correspondingly, an object of this invention is a container setcomprised of a plurality of containers interconnected at a flexibleconnection, having a carrying handle, and in which the containers aremaintained upright regardless of the weight in the containers.

Another object is a nursery plant container set including a plurality ofcontainers interconnected by a flexible member and in which a carryinghandle for the containers extends between the containers to restrainthem from tipping toward each other when the containers are lifted viathe handle.

Another object is a plant container arrangement in which the handle forthe containers extends upwardly from a location generally centrally ofthe containers and includes a wedge engaging the side walls of adjacentcontainers to maintain the containers upright when lifted by the handle.

Another object is a multiple compartment plant container in which thehandle is particularly adapted to be inserted between and simultaneouslysecured to the containers against upward separation, and in which thehandle also functions to prevent tipping or pivoting of the containerstoward each other.

A further object is a plant container arrangement including a containerset and a handle, and in which the handle is so constructed that it canbe inserted through an opening between joined containers and can then beexpanded to secure same, without lifting or otherwise disturbing thecontainers.

A further object is a plant container arrangement in which the handletakes the form of a double layer of flexible material so arranged thatthe web can be extended through a slot between the containers andexpanded to grip same without lifting or otherwise disturbing thecontainers.

A further object is a container set of the type described in which tabson the handle are arranged to be expanded by the simple expedient ofpushing the handle through a slot between the containers and thenexpanding the handle by simple manipulation.

A still further object is a container set of the type described in whichthe container set is capable of nesting with other like container sets,the handle is foldable for shipping in a flattened condition, the handleand container sets are weather resistant, and the container set andhandle is relatively inexpensive, yet attractive, and durable, andfacilitates handling the container set without soiling the customershands or clothes.

Numerous other objects, advantages, and features of the container andhandle arrangement of this invention will become apparent with referenceto the drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the container-handle arrangement of thisinvention showing a container set including two relatively largecontainers and a handle extending between the containers;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a container-handle arrangement, accordingto this invention, and showing the container set comprised of multiplecontainers with the handle between rows of the containers;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of thecontainer-handle arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the container arrangement of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the container handle ofthis invention in unfolded form;

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 and showing a second embodimentof the container-handle arrangement of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the blank from which the handle of FIG. 7 isformed;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagramatic views showing the steps of connecting thehandle of FIG. 8 to a container set, to form the container-handlearrangement of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 and showing another embodimentof the container-handle arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the blank from which the handle of FIG. 11 isfonned;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the handle of FIG. 12, shown folded and readyfor connection to the container set;

FIGS. 14-16 are diagramatic views showing the steps of connecting thehandle of FIGS. 12 and 13 to a container set to form thecontainer-handle arrangement of FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 and showing another embodimentof the container-handle arrangement of this invention;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the blank from which the handle of FIG. 17 isformed;

F IGS. 19-21 are diagramatic views showing the steps for connecting thehandle of FIG. 18 to a container set to form the container-handlearrangement of FIG. 17;

FIG. 22 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of thecontainer-handle arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 23 is a view in section taken along line 23-23 of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the blank from which the handle of FIGS. 22and 23 is formed; and

FIGS. 25-27 are diagramatic views showing the steps of connecting thehandle of FIG. 24 to a container set to form the container-handlearrangement of FIGS. 22 and 23.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to FIG. 1,there is shown a container-handle arrangement 1 including a containerset 2 and a handle 3 extending upwardly from the container set.Container set 2 includes a first container 4 and a second container 5.Containers 4 and 5 are integrally connected to each other by a flexibleweb 6 which tends to maintain the containers in spaced apart relation toeach other and in horizontal alignment. Web 6 has an elongated openingor slit 7 formed therein to receive the handle 3. Handle 3 isadvantageously elongated to facilitate carrying container set 2 evenwhen relatively tall plants, such as plant 8, are placed in therespective containers. Because of the weight of the plants in containers4 and 5 and because of the additional weight of the moist growing medium9 in which the plants are rooted, it will be appreciated that both thecontainer set 2 and handle 3 must have substantial strength to preventfailure when the containers are lifted by the handle.

The container-handle arrangement of FIG. 2 is quite similar to that ofFIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the container-handle arrangement 10 includes acontainer set 11 and a handle 12. In this arrangement, however, a firstrow 13 of containers is integrally joined to a second row 14 ofcontainers by a flexible web 15 which tends to maintain the containersin horizontal alignment with each other. Web 15 has an elongated openingor slit 16 formed therein, and handle 12 extends upwardly through theslit 16 from a location between the rows of containers 13 and 14.

In the preferred embodiment, which will subsequently be described indetail, the container sets 2 and l l are formed from a thermoformableplastic sheet material, such as OBIS-0.030 polystyrene sheet which isvacuum formed to provide the integral container set. The handles 3 and12 of the container sets are a advantageously formed from a web, such aspaper board, but can also be formed from thin sheet plastic, such aspolystyrene.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, one embodiment of the container-handlearrangement will now be described in detail. As shown, thecontainer-handle arrangement 20 includes a container set 21 and a handle22. The container set includes relatively deep drawn containers 23 and24 joined by an integral horizontal web 25 (FIG. 4) at the upper ends ofthe containers. Containers 23 and 24 are identical, container 23 havinga generally flat horizontal bottom wall 26 integral with upwardlydiverging opposed side walls 27 and 28, and upwardly diverging opposedend walls 29 and 30. Similarly, container 24 has a flat horizontalbottom wall 31, upwardly diverging side walls 32 and 33 integral withthe bottom wall, and upwardly diverging end walls 34 and 35 integralwith the bottom wall and side walls. The respective side walls, endwalls, and bottom wall of each container are connected to each otheralong long radius corners, such as the corners 36.

Integral with the container set is a top peripheral flange 37 whichextends outwardly beyond the containers. This peripheral flange resultsfrom the manner in which the containers are formed, in that a pluralityof container sets like container sets 21 are simultaneously vacuumformed, and then, cuts are formed along the flange 37 except at thecorners of the flange so the container sets are held together tofacilitate handling, but can be easily separated into individual setswhen desired.

As shown at FIG. 4, the flange which extends between and joinscontainers 23 and 24 is elongated. Web 25 is separated from flange 37 atits ends by shallow downwardly formed reinforcing ribs 38 and 39, whichmerge with the end walls 29, 30, 34 and at the inner corners of thecontainers. Formed in web 25 is a narrow elongated opening or slit 40with rounded ends 41 and 42. Opening 40 is formed in the web at alocation midway between containers 23 and 24, and is centered relativeto the geometric center of the container set, so handle 22, whichextends through opening 40 is correspondingly centrally located andbetween the containers. Ends 41 and 42 of opening 40 are rounded toreduce the tendency for the plastic material from which the containerset is formed to split at these ends. The ribs 38 and 39 perform thedual function of tending to stiffen web 25, and preventing a crack orsplit formed at either end of the opening 40 from traveling or extendingbeyond these ribs and through the flange 37. As will be observed withreference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower portion of the handle extendsbetween the containers and the upper portion of the handle projects asubstantial distance above the open tops of the containers.

FIG. 6 shows a paper board blank 45 from which handle 22 is folded. Asshown, blank 45 includes a first generally rectangular body panel 46 anda second generally rectangular body panel 47 joined to panel 46 along ascored fold line or hinge line 48. At the free end of panel 46 is aconnecting flap 49 of the same width as panel 46 and separated therefromalong a scored hinge line 50.

At the free end of panel 47 is a second connecting flap 51 which isseparated from the panel by a scored hinge line 52. The flap 51 has atongue 53 of a width slightly narrower than the length of flap 51 andend edges 54 and 55 of the flap extend perpendicularly from the sideedges of the tongue.

Flap 49 has a cut to provide an elongated slit 56. Slit 56 is formedapproximately midway between hinge line and the outer end edge 57 offlap 49. The length of the slit is only slightly greater than tee widthof tongue 52 so the tongue is readily insertable through the slit to aposition in which edges 54 and of flap 51 abut an edgeof the flap 49 atthe slit to prevent further insertion of the tongue.

Formed integral with panel 46 and projecting outwardly from the panel ata location inwardly of hinge line 50 are ears 59 and 60. These earspresent abutment edges 61 and 62 respectively, spaced from and parallelwith hinge line 50 and facing in a direction away from connecting flap49. Similarly, ears 63 and 64 extend outwardly from body panel 47 at alocation inwardly of hinge line 52. Bars 63 and 64 present abutmentedges 65 and 66 respectively, which are parallel with and spaced fromhinge line 52, and which face in a direction away from connecting flap51.

Formed in panel 46 at a location closely adjacent hinge line 48 is ahand grip opening 67, and formed in panel 47 at a location closelyadjacent hinge line 48 is a hand grip opening 68. Openings 67 and 68 areeach spaced the same distance from hinge line 48. Hinge lines 50 and 52are each spaced the same distance from hinge line 48. Ears 59, 60, 63and 64 are identical to each other, and hence, when the handle is foldedalong fold line 48, hand grip openings 67 and 68 are registered witheach other as shown at FIG. 5, and abutment edges 61, 62, 65 and 66 ofthe several ears are coplaner.

Before handle 22 is connected to container set 21, it must be folded toan erected position. This is accomplished by first folding the handlealong the fold line 48 so panels 46 and 47 face each other. Next, flap51 is folded toward panel 46 along hinge line 52. Then, flap 49 isfolded toward panel 47 along hinge line 50. Next, tab 53 is insertedthrough slit 56 in such a manner that the body 51 of the flap is exposedat the bottom of the handle and the tongue 53 extends upwardly andinwardly through slit 56, as shown at FIG. 5. Advantageously, tongue 53and flap 49 are so dimensioned that the end 69 of the tongue engages theinside surface of panel 46 and the end 57 of flap 49 engages the insidesurface of flap 47, as shown at FIG. 5. To connect the handle to thecontainer it is merely necessary to insert the handle 22 upwardlythrough opening 40 to a position in which the abutment edges of the earsengage the bottom surface 70 of connecting web 25, as shown at FIG. 5for edges 61 and 62 of ears 59 and 60.

It will be observed with reference to FIG. 5 that flaps 49 and 51cooperate with the lower ends of panels 46 and 47 to provide a lowerhandle portion 71 of wedgeshaped configuration, with the panels inengagement with the respective side walls 28 and 32 of the containers 23and 24. Such engagement of outer surface 72 of panel 46 along asubstantial length of the outer surface of side wall 32, and suchengagement of outer surface 73 of panel 47 along a substantial portionof the outside surface of side wall 32, coupled with the bracing offlaps 49 and 51 provides a substantial wedging effect which preventscontainers 23 and 24 from tipping toward each other when the containerset is lifted by the handle, regardless of the weight of the plants andgrowing medium in the containers. As a result of this wedging, there isno tipping of the containers 23 and 24 toward each other and hence,there is no danger of plants falling out of the containers or shifting,which could damage the root structure of the plants, as would be thecase if the containers were not wedged against tipping movement towardeach other. Hence, although dle, it is to be understood that the handle22 can readily be used with the container set 11 of FIG. 2 bysubstituting the handle 22 for the handle 12. When so used, the handle22 is extended through the slit 16 in connecting web and extends betweenthe rows 13 and 14 of the containers. It will be appreciated that thehandle 22 will be made sufficiently wide to engage the facing side wallsof each of the respective containers of the rows 13 and 14.

With reference to FIGS. 7-10, a second embodiment 80 of thecontainer-handle arrangement will now be described. As shown at FIG. 7,the container-handle arrangement 80 includes a container set 81 quitesimilar to the container set 21 described in the embodiment of FIGS.3-6, and like numerals will be used to identify identical parts of thecontainer set. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the container set includesthe horizontally spaced apart containers 23 and 24 joined by theflexible connecting web 25. Container 23 has an inner side wall 28 andcontainer 24 has an inner side wall 32. However, the opening 82, throughweb 25, through which handle 83 extends is somewhat narrower than theopening 40 described with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 3-6. As aresult of the narrower opening, the lower surface of web 25 presentsdownwardly facing abutment surfaces 85 and 86 respectively at thejuncture of the web with the side walls 28 and 32 of the containers.Otherwise, the container set 81, shown at FIG 7, is identical to thecontainer 21 of FIGS. 3- 6.

As shown at FIG. 8, the blank 87 from which handle 83 is formed isrectangular. Blank 87 is advantageously formed from stiff paper board,but may be formed from thin plastic material, if described. Blank 87includes an elongated first body panel 88 joined to a relatively narrowconnecting panel 89 along a hinge line 90. Connected to connecting panel89 along a hinge line 92 is a second body panel 93 of the same lengthand width as the first body panel 88. A three-sided cut 94 is formed inbody panel 88 to define a rectangular support flap 95 joined to theconnecting panel 89 along hinge line 91. Similarly, a rectangularsupport flap 96 is formed by cut 97 and the support flap thus formed ishingedly joined to the connecting panel along the hinge line 92.

A hand grip opening 100 is completely cut out of panel 93, and the sideof the opening closest to the end edge 101 of the panel is provided withan elongated yet shallow notch 102. A hand grip opening 103 is formed inthe panel 89 by a three-sided cut 104, so a generally rectangular handleflap 105 is formed which is hingedly connected to the body panel alongthe hinge line 106. This handle flap has a width the same as that of thenotch 102 and is adapted to be inserted through the hand grip opening100 and into the notch 102 to connect the body panels together.

The construction of handle 83 is such that it can be connected tocontainer set 81 from above without lifting or even touching thecontainer set. This is accomplished as shown at FIGS. 9 and 10, by firstfolding panel 93 along hinge line 92 so it lies flat against panel 88,as shown at FIG. 9. During the step of folding along the hinge line 92,support flap 96 is pushed outwardly and support flap 95 is likewisepushed outwardly so these flaps occupy the positions shown in FIG. 9,wherein they extend outwardly of the respective body panels and presentupwardly facing abutment edges 107 and 108, respectively.

With handle 83 folded as shown at FIG. 9, the handle is connected tocontainer set 81 by pushing the handle downwardly through slot 82. Whenabutment edge 107 of support flap is below opening 82, body panel 88 ispushed downwardly while body panel 93 is held stationary. This causesbody panel 88 to pivot about hinge line 90, thereby causing connectingpanel 89 to pivot to the horizontal position shown at FIG. 10. When theend edge 109 of body panel 88 is aligned with the end edge 101 of bodypanel 93, the opening is aligned with handle flap and the handle flap ispushed through opening 100 and is folded upwardly as shown at FIG. 7,whereupon the handle flap locks in notch 102 to connect the panelsagainst further relative movement. With further reference to FIG. 7, itwill be observed that the abutment edges 107 and 108 of support flaps 95and 96 engage under the respective abutment surfaces 85 and 86 of web 25to prevent separation of the handle from the container set when thecontainer is lifted by the handle. With the lower end 110 of the handleso expanded, connecting panel 89 functions as a brace and maintains thelower ends of panels 88 and 93 in engagement with the outside surfacesof side walls 28 and 32. Hence, the lower portion 110 of handle 83functions as a wedge, and the wedging action prevents tipping ofcontainers 23 and 24 toward each other when the container is lifted bythe handle.

FIG. 11 shows an additional embodiment of the container-handlearrangement according to this invention. As shown, container-handlearrangement includes a container set 81 identical to the container setof FIG. 7 and including containers 23 and 24 joined by a web 25 havingan opening 82 therein. A handle 116, connected to container set 81extends upwardly from a location between the containers and prevents thecontainers 23 and 24 from tipping toward each other when the containerset is lifted by the handle.

FIG. 12 shows a blank 117 from which the handle 116 is folded. Blank 117is of rectangular outline and includes a first body panel 118 connectedto a connecting panel 119 along a hinge line 120. A second body panel121 is connected to the opposite side of connecting panel 119 along ahinge line 122. Support tabs 123 and 124 are cut respectively from bodypanels 118 and 121 by the three-sided cuts 125 and 126. A significantdifference between the blank 117 of FIG. 12 and the blank of FIG. 8 isthat in the blank of FIG. 12 the hinge lines and 122 terminate at theside edges of the respective support tabs and 126. Hence, when handle116 is folded by folding body portion 121 against body portion 118,along fold line 122, support tab 126 projects downwardly from thehandle. Such folding along score line 122 is,of course, the first stepprior to connecting handle 116 to container set 81.

Handle blank 117 is also provided with a hand grip opening 100 having anotch 102, and a handle flap 105 hingedly connected to body panel 118along a hinge line 106. The arrangement of hand grip opening 100 andhandle flap 105 is identical to that described for the handle blank 87of FIG. 8.

After handle blank 117 is folded to the condition of FIG. 13, the handle116 is aligned with opening 82 and is inserted downwardly through theopening to the position of FIG. 15, wherein both support tabs 125 and126 are below the bottom walls 26 and 31 of the respective containers.Next, body panel 118 is moved downwardly relative to body panel 121 topivot connecting panel 119 relative to both body panels along the hingelines 120 and 122. This causes connecting panel 119 to assume agenerally horizontal position with the supporting tabs 125 and 126extending horizontally from the connecting panel. Lifting upwardly onthe handle then brings tab 126 into engagement with the bottom surfaceof bottom wall 26 and simultaneously brings tab 125 into engagement with.the bottom surface of bottom wall 31. Since the width of connectingpanel 119, as measured between hinge lines 120 and 122, is essentiallythe same as the distance between containers 23 and 24 at the junction ofthe inner side walls and the bottom walls, the lower end of panel 118engages the outside surface of side wall 32 adjacent the lower end ofthe side wall, and the body panel 121 engages the outside surface ofside wall 28 adjacent the lower end of this side wall. With thisarrangement, tabs 125 and 126 engage under the bottom walls of therespective containers to both prevent separation of handle 116 from thecontainer set as a result of a force applied in an upward direction, andin addition, body panels 118 and 121 cooperate with connecting panel 119to provide a wedge that functions to prevent tipping of containers 23and 24 toward each other when the container set is lifted. Because thematerial of handle 1 16 is relatively thin, the tabs 125 and 126 do notdisturb the equilibrium of the container-handle arrangement when thecontainer is rested on a flat surface.

After connecting panel 119 is pivoted to the position of FIG. 11, handleflap 105 is pushed through hand grip opening 100 to the position shownat FIG. 11 where handle flap 105 is locked in notch 102.

FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of the containerhandle arrangement ofthis invention. The containerhandle arrangement 130 includes a handle131 and a container set 81 identical to the container set of FIGS. 7 and11. Handle 131 extends upwardly from container set 81 and has a lowerwedging end 132 which extends between containers 23 and 24.

The blank 133 from which handle 131 is formed is shown at FIG. 18. Blank133 is rectangular and includes a rectangular body panel 134 connectedto a connecting panel 135 along a hinge line 136. Connecting panel 135is connected to a second body panel 137 along a hinge line 138. Bodypanels 134 and 137 have the same length and width. Body panel 134isprovided with a handle flap 105 hinged to the body panel along a hingeline 106 as previously described for the handle blank of FIG. 12.Similarly, body panel 137 has a hand grip opening 100 with a notch 102identical to the hand grip of FIG. 12.

Handle 131 is connected to container set 81 in the manner sown inFIGS.19-21. First, body panel 137 is folded along hinge line 138 intoengagement with body panel 134, as shown at FIG. 19. Next, handle 131 isinserted downwardly through opening 82 of connecting web 25 (FIG. so theconnecting panel 135 and fold line l36'are a substantial distance belowopening 82. Next, panel l34is moved downwardly relative to panel 137 tocause connecting panel 135 to pivot about the hinge lines 136 and 138 sothe lower end of the handle assumes the wedge shape 132 shown at FIGS.17 and 21. Body panels 134 and 137 are then connected against relativemovement by pushing the handle flap through opening 100 and locking samein notch 102.

With the lower end 132 of the handle so expanded, upward movement of thehandle relative to the container causes the portion 132 to wedge betweenside walls 28 and 32 of the respective containers. This wedging preventsany tipping of containers 23 and 24 toward each other about the flexibleweb 25 when the container set is lifted by the handle. It will beobserved with reference to FIG. 17 that the outside surface of bodypanel 134 engages the outside surface of side wall 32 and that theoutside surface of body panel 137 engages the outside surface of sidewall 28 to prevent the containers from tipping toward each other whencontainer set 81 is lifted by the handle.

FIGS. 22-27 show another embodiment of the container-handle arrangementof this invention. Container-handle arrangement includes a handle 151and a container set 81 identical to that of several previously describedembodiments. The handle 151 is adapted to be inserted through slot 82 ofcontainer set 81 from above the container set. Then, the handle can bereadily locked to the container set in a manner which will soon bedescribed in detail.

FIG. 24 shows the blank 152 from which handle 151 is folded. As shown,the blank 152 is generally rectangular and elongated and includes a bodypanel 153 hav' ing a width greater than the length of the slot 82 ofcontainer set 81. The inner end 154 of body panel 153 is generallyrectangular and narrower than the width of the body panel to providealigned abutment edges 155 and 156 which face toward inner end 154.Inner end 154 of the body panel is connected to a connecting panel 157along a fold or hinge line 157.

A second body panel 158, having an inner end 159, is connected toconnecting panel 157 along a hinge or score line 160. The outlineconfiguration of body panel 158 with inner end 159 is identical to theoutline configuration of body panel 153 with inner end 154. As will beobserved with reference to FIG. 24, the width of inner end 154,connecting panel 157, and inner end 159 is the same, and this width isslightly less than the length of slot 82 so that the connecting paneland the inner end portions can be inserted through the slot 82 ofcontainer set 81 after the handle is folded. Abutment edges 161 and 162at opposite sides of inner end portion 159 are aligned with each other,face generally toward this inner end portion and are the same distancefrom fold line as the abutment edges 155 and 156 are from the fold line157.

Formed in inner end 159 of body panel 158 is a holding tab 163 which isjoined to inner end 159 along a hinge line 164 parallel with hinge line160. Holding tab 163 has an end edge 165 which faces away fromconnecting panel 157 and which lies slightly inwardly of edges 161 and162, with the blank 152 in its flat condition as shown at FIG. 24.

A wedging tab 166 is formed in inner end 154 of body panel 153. Wedgingtab 166 differs from holding tab 163 in that tab 166 has no fold linejoining it to inner end 154. In addition, end edge 167 faces towardconnecting panel 157 rather than away from the connecting panel, as isthe case with end edge 165 of holding tab 163. Wedge tab 166 is slightlywider than holding tab 163 and hence, holding tab 163 can pass throughthe opening 168 formed when wedge tab 166 is pushed out of the plane ofbody panel 153.

A hand grip opening 100, with a locking notch 102, is formed in panel158. A handle flap 105 is formed in body panel 153 and is hingedlyconnected to the body panel along a hinge line 106. Hinge line 106 isessentially the same distance from end edge 169 of body panel 153 asedge 170 of notch 102 is from end edge 171 of body panel 158. The handgrip opening and handle flap are identical to those previouslydescribed.

Handle 151 is erected by folding body panel 153 toward body panel 158along hinge line 160. During folding, tab 163 is pushed toward panel 153and tab 166 is pushed toward panel 158 so the ends of the tabs overlap,as shown at FIG. 25. The handle is then aligned vertically with slot 82as shown at FIG. 25, and is pushed downwardly through the slot untilabutment edges 161 and 162 engage the top surface of web 25 at each endof slot 82. With the handle in this position it will be observed thatthe top edge 169 of body panel 153 is vertically higher than top edge171 of body panel 158. A continued downward push on top edge 169 forcesbody panel 153 further downwardly and at the same time causes connectingpanel 157 to pivot about hinge lines 160 and 157' simultaneously. Thevarious panels are so dimensioned and arranged that connecting panel 157moves to the horizontal position in FIGS. 23 and 27 when abutment edges155 and 156 engage the top surface of web 25 at the respective ends ofslot 82. As body panel 153 is moved downwardly, wedge tab 166 forcesholding tab 163 transversely of the handle and against the outsidesurface of side wall 32 of the container set so end edge 165 of the tabengages the under-surface of web 25 at a location to one side of slot82. The handle 15] is then locked in position by extending handle flap105 through opening 100, as shown at FIGS. 23 and 27.

In the embodiment of the container and handle shown and described withreference to FIGS. 22-27, the weight of container set 81 is carriedprimarily by tab 163. In addition, inner ends 154 and 159 of the bodypanel cooperate with connecting panel 157 to form a wedge 172 whichprevents the containers from tipping toward each other when thecontainer is lifted.

It is to be appreciated that the dimensions of the wedge portion of thehandle can be varied so the connecting panel of the wedge engages thefacing side walls of the containers of the container set at virtuallyany location below the top of the containers. However, it will be seenwith reference to the embodiments of FIGS. 5, 7, 17 and 23 that theconnecting panel is advantageously located approximately two-thirds ofthe height of the containers below web 25.

While the embodiments of handle shown at FIGS. 5, 7, 11, 17, and 23 havebeen described in the environment ofa container set having only twocontainers, like the container set of FIG. 1, it is to be appreciatedthat the handles of these several embodiments can be used with thecontainer set 11 of FIG. 2, wherein the lower wedging portion of thehandle extends between the rows 13 and 14 of containers and engages thefacing side walls of the containers to prevent opposed pairs of 6 thecontainers from tipping toward each other when lifted by the handle.

It is to be noted with particularity with reference to the embodiment ofFIG. 17, that the wedge portion 132 at the lower end of the handle isthe sole means for both preventing tipping of the containers toward eachother and for connecting the handle to the container against separationwhen the container is lifted by the handle.

In the several embodiments disclosed, it is to be appreciated thatslight tipping of the containers toward each other may occur before thewedge at the lower end of the handle is engaged by the containers.Thereafter, further tipping is resisted. Such slight tipping could wellresult from permissible manufacturing tolerances, or from contraction orexpansion of the various portions of the paper board handle as a resultof changes in moisture content. Hence, it is not intended nor expectedthat the handle will prevent all tipping of the containers, but that anytipping which does occur will be slight and insufficient to eitherdamage the plants by root shift or by falling out of the containers.

While several preferred embodiments of the container-handle arrangementof this invention have been shown and described in detail, it is to beunderstood that numerous changes and modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the intended scope of this invention as described hereinand as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container arrangement particularly adapted for the handling andmarketing of nursery plants comprising, in combination a container setincluding a first generally rectangular, upright, thin walled containerwith a bottom wall and side walls diverging in a direction toward anopen top of the container,

a second generally rectangular, upright, thin walled container spacedlaterally of said first container and having a bottom wall and sidewalls diverging toward an open top of the second container,

a web integral with said containers, said web joining said containersabove the lower ends thereof and tending to maintain the containers inhorizontally aligned relation to each other;

said web having an opening therethrough located generally between saidfirst and second containers;

handle means extending through said opening to facilitate lifting saidcontainer set, said handle means being formed from flexible sheetmaterial and comprising means integral with said handle means andengaging walls of said first and second containers at a location belowsaid opening of the web to prevent tipping movement of said containerstoward each other when lifted by the handle,

and

tab means engaging said container set at a location below said openingto prevent upward separation of the handle means from the container set.

2. A container arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said opening insaid web is elongated;

said handle means has a width to be received through said opening; and

said tab means extend longitudinally of said opening and beyond the endsthereof.

3. A container arrangement according to claim 1- wherein said opening insaid web is elongated;

said handle means hasa width to be received through said opening; and

said tab means project from said handle means in a direction transverseto the long dimension of the opening.

4. A container arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said handlemeans includes a first generally rectangular panel,

. a second generally rectangular panel joined to and extending generallyalong said first panel, said panels having common lower ends,

a first flap joined to the lower end of the first panel along a hingeline and extending toward said second panel,

a second flap panel joined to the lower end of the second panel along ahinge line and extending toward said first panel,

interengaging means on said flaps locking same in laterally extendingrelation to said panels to brace the lower ends of the panels in spacedapart relation and against inward movement toward each other; said flapsand lower ends of said panels cooperating to provide said means toprevent tipping movement toward each other. 5. A container arrangementaccording to claim 4 wherein said tab means comprise a first pair oftabs extending outwardly from opposite side edges of said first panel,and

a second pair of tabs extending outwardly from opposite side edges ofsaid second panel;

said tabs, each presenting upwardly facing edges, engaging a lowersurface of said web to prevent upward separation of the handle meansfrom the container.

6. A container arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said opening insaid web is elongated; and

said handle means includes a first generally rectangular panel having awidth adjacent its lower end less than the length of said opening,

a second generally rectangular panel having a width adjacent its lowerend less than the length of said opening,

a connecting panel connecting the lower ends of said panels along spacedapart first and second hinge lines;

said handle means being foldable along said first hinge line to a firstposition in which said second panel and connecting panel lie flatagainst said first panel for insertion through said web opening fromabove the container set;

relative movement of said first and second panels causing saidconnecting panel to pivot along said second hinge line to a positiontransversely between said first and second panels to brace same againstinward movement;

said connecting panel and the lower portions of said first and secondpanels providing said means to prevent tipping of said containers towardeach other; and

means to connect said first and second panels together against relativemovement when said connecting panel is in said transverse position.

7. A container arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said handlemeans has a width less than the length of said opening and is insertablethrough the opening from above; and

said tab means includes an upwardly projecting tab below said web andhaving an upwardly facing container engaging edge; and

second tab means engaging said tab and urging same laterally of said webopening to prevent upward removal of said handle means through saidopenmg.

8. A container arrangement particularly adapted for the handling andmarketing of nursery plants comprising, in combination a container setincluding a first generally rectangular, upright thin walled containerwith a bottom wall and side walls diverging in a direction toward anopen top of the container,

a second generally rectangular, upright, thin walled container spacedlaterally of said first container and having a bottom wall and sidewalls diverging toward an open top of the second container,

a web integral with said containers, said web joining said containersabove the lower ends thereof and tending to maintain the containers inhorizontally aligned relation to each other;

said web having an elongated opening therethrough located generallybetween said first and second containers;

handle means extending through said opening to facilitate lifting saidcontainer set, said handle means being formed from flexible sheetmaterial and comprising a first generally rectangular panel having awidth adjacent its lower end less than the width of said opening,

a second generally rectangular panel having a width adjacent its lowerend less than the width of said opening, and

a narrow connecting panel connected at one side along a first hinge lineto the lower end of said first panel, and at the other side, along asecond hinge line to the lower end of said second panel;

said handle being foldable along said first hinge line to a flattenedcondition in which said second panel and connecting panel lie flatagainst said first panel for insertion through said opening from abovethe container set, and

expandable to an expanded condition by relative movement of said firstand second panels to cause said connecting panel to pivot about saidsecond hinge line to a generally transverse position between saidcontainers;

whereby, the lower end of the handle is wedged between the containersagainst upward separation and tipping of the containers toward eachother is prevented; the lower ends of said first and second panels, andsaid connecting panel forming the sole means preventing separation ofsaid handle from said container set in an upward direction. 9. Acontainer arrangement according to claim 7 wherein said handle meansfurther includes stop means presenting a downwardly facing stop surfaceengageable with an upwardly facing surface of the container means tolimit depth of insertion of the handle means through said openmg. 10. Aplant container arrangement comprising in combination a container set ofunitary construction including a first thin walled container, a secondthin walled container spaced laterally from said first container, andflexible means flexibly joining said containers above the lower endsthereof and tending to maintain same in generally horizontal alignmentwith each other, said flexible means being integral with saidcontainers, said set of containers having a lateral dimension asmeasured across said set from an outside edge of said first container toan outside edge of said second container; a unitary handle connected tosaid container set, said handle having a narrow lateral profile ascompared with said lateral dimension of said container set, said handleincluding, means extending between said containers to restrain saidcontainers against substantial tipping movement toward each other atsaid flexible means when lifted by said handle; said flexible meansjoining said containers has an opening therein; said handle means isformed from sheet material, has a width adjacent its lower end to passthrough said opening in said flexible means, and includes a firstportion joined to and in facing relation to a second portion; and saidhandle means further including expandable means responsive to movementof said first and second portions to a different position relative toeach other to expand the lower end of the handle means to prevent upwardremoval of i

1. A container arrangement particularly adapted for the handling andmarketing of nursery plants comprising, in combination a container setincluding a first generally rectangular, upright, thin walled containerwith a bottom wall and side walls diverging in a direction toward anopen top of the container, a second generally rectangular, upright, thinwalled container spaced laterally of said first container and having abottom wall and side walls diverging toward an open top of the secondcontainer, a web integral with said containers, said web joining saidcontainers above the lower ends thereof and tending to maintain thecontainers in horizontally aligned relation to each other; said webhaving an opening therethrough located generally between said first andsecond containers; handle means extending through said opening tofacilitate lifting said container set, said handle means being formedfrom flexible sheet material and comprising means integral with saidhandle means and engaging walls of said first and second containers at alocation below said opening of the web to prevent tipping movement ofsaid containers toward each other when lifted by the handle, and tabmeans engaging said container set at a location below said opening toprevent upward separation of the handle means from the container set. 2.A container arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said opening insaid web is elongated; said handle means has a width to be receivedthrough said opening; and said tab means extend longitudinally of saidopening and beyond the ends thereof.
 3. A container arrangementaccording to claim 1 wherein said opening in said web is elongated; saidhandle means has a width to be received through said opening; and saidtab means project from said handle means in a direction transverse tothe long dimension of the opening.
 4. A container arrangement accordingto claim 1 wherein said handle means includes a first generallyrectangular panel, a second generally rectangular panel joined to andextending generally along said first panel, said panels having commonlower ends, a first flap joined to the lower end of the first panelalong a hinge line and extending toward said second panel, a second flappanel joined to the lower end of the second panel along a hinge line andextending toward said first panel, interengaging means on said flapslocking same in laterally extending relation to said panels to brace thelower ends of the panels in spaced apart relation and against inwardmovement toward each other; said flaps and lower ends of said panelscooperating to provide said means to prevent tipping movement towardeach other.
 5. A container arrangement according to claim 4 wherein saidtab means comprise a first pair of tabs extending outwardly fromopposite side edges of said first panel, and a second pair of tabsextending outwardly from opposite side edges of said second panel; saidtabs, each presenting upwardly facing edges, engaging a lower surface ofsaid web to prevent upward separation of the handle means from thecontainer.
 6. A container arrangement according to claim 1 wherein saidopening in said web is elongated; and said handle means includes a firstgenerally rectangular panel having a width adjacent its lower end lessthan the length of said opening, a second generally rectangular panelhaving a width adjacent its lower end less than the length of saidopening, a connecting panel connecting the lower ends of said panelsalong spaced apart first and second hinge lines; said handle means beingfoldable along said first hinge line to a first position in which saidsecond panel and connecting panel lie flat against said first panel forinsertion through said web opening from above the container set;relative movement of said first and second panels causing saidconnecting panel to pivot along said second hinge line to a positiontransversely between said first and second panels to brace same againstinward movement; said connecting panel and thE lower portions of saidfirst and second panels providing said means to prevent tipping of saidcontainers toward each other; and means to connect said first and secondpanels together against relative movement when said connecting panel isin said transverse position.
 7. A container arrangement according toclaim 1 wherein said handle means has a width less than the length ofsaid opening and is insertable through the opening from above; and saidtab means includes an upwardly projecting tab below said web and havingan upwardly facing container engaging edge; and second tab meansengaging said tab and urging same laterally of said web opening toprevent upward removal of said handle means through said opening.
 8. Acontainer arrangement particularly adapted for the handling andmarketing of nursery plants comprising, in combination a container setincluding a first generally rectangular, upright thin walled containerwith a bottom wall and side walls diverging in a direction toward anopen top of the container, a second generally rectangular, upright, thinwalled container spaced laterally of said first container and having abottom wall and side walls diverging toward an open top of the secondcontainer, a web integral with said containers, said web joining saidcontainers above the lower ends thereof and tending to maintain thecontainers in horizontally aligned relation to each other; said webhaving an elongated opening therethrough located generally between saidfirst and second containers; handle means extending through said openingto facilitate lifting said container set, said handle means being formedfrom flexible sheet material and comprising a first generallyrectangular panel having a width adjacent its lower end less than thewidth of said opening, a second generally rectangular panel having awidth adjacent its lower end less than the width of said opening, and anarrow connecting panel connected at one side along a first hinge lineto the lower end of said first panel, and at the other side, along asecond hinge line to the lower end of said second panel; said handlebeing foldable along said first hinge line to a flattened condition inwhich said second panel and connecting panel lie flat against said firstpanel for insertion through said opening from above the container set,and expandable to an expanded condition by relative movement of saidfirst and second panels to cause said connecting panel to pivot aboutsaid second hinge line to a generally transverse position between saidcontainers; whereby, the lower end of the handle is wedged between thecontainers against upward separation and tipping of the containerstoward each other is prevented; the lower ends of said first and secondpanels, and said connecting panel forming the sole means preventingseparation of said handle from said container set in an upwarddirection.
 9. A container arrangement according to claim 7 wherein saidhandle means further includes stop means presenting a downwardly facingstop surface engageable with an upwardly facing surface of the containermeans to limit depth of insertion of the handle means through saidopening.
 10. A plant container arrangement comprising in combination acontainer set of unitary construction including a first thin walledcontainer, a second thin walled container spaced laterally from saidfirst container, and flexible means flexibly joining said containersabove the lower ends thereof and tending to maintain same in generallyhorizontal alignment with each other, said flexible means being integralwith said containers, said set of containers having a lateral dimensionas measured across said set from an outside edge of said first containerto an outside edge of said second container; a unitary handle connectedto said container set, said handle having a narrow lateral profile asCompared with said lateral dimension of said container set, said handleincluding, means extending between said containers to restrain saidcontainers against substantial tipping movement toward each other atsaid flexible means when lifted by said handle; said flexible meansjoining said containers has an opening therein; said handle means isformed from sheet material, has a width adjacent its lower end to passthrough said opening in said flexible means, and includes a firstportion joined to and in facing relation to a second portion; and saidhandle means further including expandable means responsive to movementof said first and second portions to a different position relative toeach other to expand the lower end of the handle means to prevent upwardremoval of the handle means from the container set; whereby, said handlemeans can be inserted into said opening in said flexible means fromabove the containers, and can be expanded without lifting the containerset.
 11. A plant container according to claim 10 where said handlefurther includes means to retain said first and second portions in saiddifferent position.